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Wednesday, November 10, 2010

SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY, November 10, 2010--The great Winston Churchill had it right when he said: “There’s something about the outside of a horse that’s good for the inside of a man.”

Women might be included in this, too, of course.

Among the arguments made here several weeks ago about voting for Zenyatta as 2010 Horse of the Year regardless of what happened in the Breeders’ Cup Classic; that transcendent horses need to be recognized.

Recall that there is no Horse of the Year guidebook to consult.

There will be no expounding further on what a Horse of the Year resume is; voters need to settle that question within their own conscience and let the heavens fall.

I’ve surfed the Internet for Thoroughbred storylines in the wake of Zenyatta’s “Quest for Perfection,” and it’s been heartening to see all the positive reaction following such heartfelt disappointment.

Because of Zenyatta‘s hulking presence, the lead-up to this year’s Classic was unprecedented.

Photo spreads in two national magazines plus a “60 Minutes” love-in does something for your image. Even in the best of times, presenting racing in a favorable light to the masses is a challenge.

And these are far from the best of times.

All this preamble led to 6:45 pm last Saturday. The latch was sprung and in less than an eighth of a mile most feared that this time it might end differently.

Even the Hall of Famer on her back was having doubts. The Classic wasn’t a quarter-mile old before Mike Smith briefly considered easing her, protect her. She was traveling uncharacteristically poorly, clearly uncomfortable with the going under foot.

But out of loss came not despair but adulation, the kind of feelings that Churchill understood enough to try to describe. And it came from everywhere.

A sampling, then, from all who were touched by Zenyatta’s class and courage, moving those owning word processors to tell her story in only the most glowing terms. So, it begins:

“As the horses were about to be loaded into the gate Saturday for the Breeders’ Cup Classic, three light blue and reddish bands of light took shape in the sky directly overhead.

“It didn’t require much imagination to associate these bands with Zenyatta’s salmon and teal colors, and to see them as a sign that perhaps the hopes riding on her extended further than people knew…” --Jeff Scott, for The Saratogian

“My interest was piqued and I tuned in to watch the chance for history to be made. As I watched Zenyatta "dance" on her way to the track, weaving her way through the massive crowd in the paddock area, I was mesmerized…” --Blogger Al Stephenson

“Her most important success probably came off the track, as she single-handedly revived the flagging interest in U.S. racing...” --Sam Walker, for The Racing Post.

“Zenyatta was a gift from heaven and God further blessed us by giving her to John Shirreffs…” --Art Wilson, for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune

“Zenyatta endeared herself to millions of Americans and helped raise the profile of racing in the same way that Seabiscuit and Secretariat did before her.” --Reuters

“She’s the greatest filly I’ve ever seen. She may be the greatest of all time…” --Steve Haskin, for The Bloodhorse

“She is a once-in-a-lifetime athlete, not merely a superb racehorse… It is hard to imagine that a [Horse of the Year] vote could go any other way. Zenyatta hasn’t just won lots of races and attracted lots of interest to a sport whose piece of the general fan pie is a sliver, she has created a buzz that made its way to mainstream America…” --Bill Dwyre, for the Los Angeles Times

“So ends a truly great career for the most talented older race mare I have ever seen…” --Steve Davidowitz, for GradeOneRacing.com

“Rarely, if ever, has a thoroughbred so thoroughly exuded greatness while enduring such a monumental defeat…” Ed Gray, for the Boston Herald, retired

“Zenyatta demonstrated in a clear, unequivocal manner she is the best Thoroughbred in America…” --Nick Kling, for the Troy Record

“Her legend was enhanced in defeat…” --author Bill Nack, for ESPN.com

“Zenyatta’s first defeat served to complete the legend rather than diminish it...” --The Independent [United Kingdom]

“…The weight of the loss was on us… I heard turf writers whom I would have sworn didn’t have a sentimental bone in their bodies say in bewilderment, ‘I can’t believe how bad I feel…” --Blogger Teresa Genaro, Brooklyn Backstretch

“She was--and is--far bigger than her one defeat…” --Tim Layden, for Sports Illustrated

The part about “giving her to John Shirreffs” made me smile.
If you want to have a fantasy nightmare, try putting the words “Zenyatta” and “D. Wayne Lucas” in the same sentence. No man has so thoroughly self disparaged his entire career so completely than he did when Mine That Bird tried to work 3/8ths out of the gate just prior to Breeder’s Cup. It was painful to see.
Rather than expend energy on the Horse of the Year award, voters should start a write in campaign to remove D. Wayne from the Hall of Fame. Now that would be a landslide vote.

Maybe I’m inept, but had a hard time finding the win photo where Zenyatta was blowing by what’s his name at the wire, but ran out of racetrack. Finally found it buried in an ESPN Breeders’ Cup photograph section. Here it is for those who are struggling to find it.

Odd that so many people that saw the 11th race on the card missed the 8th in which I saw the most talented mare I’ve ever seen run and win in dominating fashion over what I felt was the best field top to bottom during the two days.

Oh, now I get it, only races on the dirt at 1 1/4 m actually count for anything.....and exactly how many of those do we have anymore?

Got more respect for the big mare now than ever, but if you don’t pay attention to that other one, who will be trying to win her 4th BC race next year, you a really missing something incredible. I think a lot of you have so far.

I’m glad there is no set criteria for the vote. However, the criteria should be strigent as to who gets a vote.

Suggested Criteria for Vote

1. Talent. You are encouraged to vote for a horse that has exhibited extraordinary talent in the year you are voting, this usually would be a horse who has won more often than not, and who has dominated his/her rivals.

2. Age. A horse of any age can be considered for horse of the year, and no weight should be given to a horse’s age, or to whether a horse competed against older rivals.

3. Sex. An animal’s sex should be irrelevant with respect to your vote. If female, the female need not have beaten males to receive your vote, or competed against males.

4. Money Won. Since races for males generally have greater purse value than those for females, the amount of money won should not be a consideration when casting your ballot. The money for different ages also make for different purse value, as do the variations from track to track. These factors make it extremely difficult, if not impossible to use this as criteria.

5. Number of Races. Every effort should be made to judge a horse’s total accomplishments and contributions over the entire year. No set number of races are required, however, if voting for a horse that has run only a few races, those races should overwhelmingly show that his/her talent exceeded that of their rivals. One particular race should never be the criteria for your vote, or for judging one horse against another.

6. Late Year/Early Year. Races run in the early part of the year should be given no less consideration than those run at the end of the year. Often times we tend to forgive or forget early year bad/good performances, but not late year bad/good performances. For example, a horse that comes out in January through July and has a spectacular campaign, would probably lose the vote to the same horse that campaigned June through December. The total body of work must be analyzed. The vote is for Horse of the YEAR.

7. Track Venues. A horse need not travel to a certain number of venues to be considered, what the horse does at the venues he competes at is what should be considered.

8. Trainers/Jockeys/Owners. Under no circumstances should a trainer, jockey or owner affiliation influence your vote. This is “HORSE of the Year.”

9. Surface Preference. The surface(s) that a horse has run on, or not run on, should be given no consideration. A horse need not prove he runs well on any particular surface to receive your vote, nor should a horse that has proven he can run on every surface be given any preferential treatment.

10. Breeding. A horse’s ancestors should not be considered in casting your ballot. The horse should be judged on his/her merits.

Very interesting photo...thanks for posting. It clearly shows Blame’s head & neck extended meaning he was at the fullest length of his stride while Zenyatta’s head & neck were in the recoiling position of her stride. The Equibase chart description of “lasted late” and “not quite able to run down the winner” pretty much puts into words what the photo shows. A mere three inches from rendering all of these discussions mute!

And don’t forget other trainers’ comments. When was the last time you had other trainers gushing over a rival? Jerry Hollendorfer said that one of the reasons Blind Luck shipped so much was to avoid Zenyatta. Even my sons, both in their 20’s - one of which asked why the big deal, it’s just a horse - were amazed and impressed after the race.

Goldikova definitely is a very talented mare and her accomplishments are incredible. Personally I would never rank a great miler ahead of a great router as I would never rank a great sprinter ahead of a great miler.

There is an undisputed reason why the turf mile’s purse is 2MM vs the Classic at 5MM and why the Classic is the main event.

That undisputed reason is CLASS.

There is pretty good chance that as great a miler Goldikova is she would be 0-3 in the Breeders if she was entered in the Classic 3 times instead of the turf mile.

There is no different in heart and talent but definitely a difference in CLASS.

So, poster gary, you prove my point. Only dirt routes seem to count. Of course Goldikova did win at about 1 1/8m this year as well, but that’s not on dirt so it can’t show CLASS. BTW there’s a pretty good chance Zenyatta would be 0-3 in the BC if she only entered the Mile, despite her CLASS.

OTM, by the way. I am not saying dirt routes is the only one that counts. Remember they did try Goldikova at longer distances and Zarkava made fun of her. Do you really think she will be running at strictly the mile if she can go at the more prestigious, higher purses LONGER distances turf races in europe.

To say that Goldikova does not measure up in the class department is preposterous. She destroyed Gio Ponti, a horse that Zenyatta beat by 1 length or so in last year’s Breeders’ Cup. Goldkiva, like so many foreign horses, are run on the turf for their health and longevity. No doubt she can run on dirt, and go 1-1/4. Not all people believe that going for the big money is the best thing for their horse, that does not mean they are not up to the task. OTM Al is the man when it comes to this argument. I would never bet against Goldikova against any other horse in training today, what an animal, and what a performance on Saturday; stole the show!

TTT, ridiculous. Your reasoning is flawed. She is a miler end of story. Let’s just forget about her running 1 1/4 on dirt. If she is that classy why doesn’t she run in a lot more longer races on turf in europe.
I tell you why? she won’t have the record she has today.
Yes she is classy.... at a mile.

“Not all people believe that going for the big money is the best thing for their horse, that does not mean they are not up to the task”

Goldikova has been praised for running against top group 1 horse and taken all comers and has been challenged. Forget the money angle. Are you telling me her handlers settled for the mile and wasn’t sporting enough to go at the more prestigious longer distances on turf even if she was up for the task?

GIVE ME A BREAK PAL....that is about as OXYMORON STATEMENT AS IT CAN GET.

JRP, Nothing wrong with milers although I don’t know why breeders here in USA loves them. No wonder we have bred to perfection cookie cutter 8.5 - 9 furlong horses. Rachel Alexandra and Quality Road are the perfect example of the less than Classic distance horses we have been breeding for decades. I guess it’s ok, it fits Andy Beyers speed bias system but I would love to see one more triple crown winner before I.... But judging from how we adore all these no stamina, fragile cookie cutter 9 furlong speed horses the odds of that is about as good as Goldikova winning at 10+ furlongs on dirt or turf. Slim and none. lol

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